I recently rescued a beautiful one year old Golden Retriever from a high kill shelter in Virginia. Her name is "Sugar" and she is an absolutely wonderful dog, but as with a lot of animals I have rescued in the past she does have a few problems. She was taken by the USPCA because her owner was viciously beating and starving her. I am proud to say that she has come a long way in the past month that she has been in my home. Sugar is very sweet and loving and adores other animals and children, but she is very shy. I was wondering where I can find information on training abused dogs. She is extremely intelligent but due to her neglect and abuse she doesn't even know how to play and is deathly afraid of a stick if you throw it for her to retrieve. I feel like she may need some "special" training since she is a special dog and I want to be able to help her. Any information is appreciated.......
The first thing you do is gain her trust, this may take some time, abuse has scarred her. For now don't throw a stick ( you may never be able to use a stick), try a ball or other toy.
Play with her just like you would a puppy. Try to be small (like sit on the floor with your legs outstretched) and roll the ball inbetween you and a wall. Praise her for the slightest bit of intrest. Talk in happy playful tones.
She seems to be very trusting of me and my family, she has changed a lot since I've had her. It used to be that she jumped at every little noise, she's not doing that anymore and she'll play with me a little bit outside but I can't seem to make her understand that the toys inside the house are for her and she can play with them. She also for the first couple of weeks wouldn't eat from her bowl if anyone was in the room and now I can pet her while she eats and she is quite comfortable with it. She's a really good dog, no accidents in the house, no chewing, no jumping, no getting on the furniture, actually she is quite lazy to only be a year old. I'm thinking about getting her a companion and hoping that will help her.
Lisa, just take time with your dog, like everyone says, baby steps. Let the dog bond with your family, don't get her a companion. (that may create more problems and introduce setbacks).
It has only been a month and if you have seen this much change, be happy about it! She is progressing quickly! Try a ball on a string for now and avoid wildly waving arms (fear factor). Encourage and praise! Lots of happiness!
Glad to hear you have a new addition to your family. Good Luck.
I too, adopted an abused dog that seemed to have missed normal puppy development. It takes time and bonding. After three frustrating months of trying everything I knew to get Finn interested in toys, I told a visitor how the dog simply did not know how to play. To illustrate, I threw a tug which he had always ignored.
Naturally, he ran to it, picked it up and dropped it at my feet. First ime ever. So my advice, keep trying, and when you are absolutely at the end of your rope, bring a friend over and explain that the dog never learned to play . . . .
Thanks to everyone for encouraging replies, but now I have another question. Instead of getting another dog, what about a "playmate" for her? She loves other dogs and immediately runs up to other dogs wanting to play. What I am wondering now is my mother in law has a two year old Golden, would it be good for Sugar to play with her since she is so fond of other dogs? My mother in law lives in NC and I live in WV so it's not like it would be an every day thing or even this month, but would it hurt for them to play together?
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